IB History Topic Economic and Social Structures Revision Notes (HL)

IB History Topic Economic and Social Structures Revision Notes (HL) | RevisionDojo

Economic Systems and Tribute in Indigenous Societies

Overview

Indigenous societies across the Americas developed complex and efficient economic systems long before European contact.
These economies were based on tribute, communal landholding, agriculture, and trade, all shaped by the natural environment and social hierarchy.
Unlike Europe, wealth was often measured in goods, labor, and relationships—not coins. Economic activity supported religion and politics, reinforcing the power of rulers and priests.

Tribute as a System of Taxation

Many empires, such as the Aztecs, built their power on tribute, a form of tax paid by conquered peoples.
Tribute could take many forms: food crops like maize or potatoes, luxury goods such as jade or feathers, and in some cases, human captives for ritual sacrifice.
This system allowed empires to grow rich without directly controlling every field or farmer.
Tribute sustained the army, funded religious ceremonies, and filled the storehouses of nobles and temples. It was a clear sign of submission to imperial authority.

Landholding and Agricultural Production

Land in most Indigenous societies was not privately owned, as it often was in Europe. Instead, it was held communally by extended families, clans, or the state.
The Inca Empire divided land into three parts
1. one for the state,
2. one for religion,

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Economic Systems and Tribute in Indigenous Societies

Overview

Indigenous societies across the Americas developed complex and efficient economic systems long before European contact.
These economies were based on tribute, communal landholding, agriculture, and trade, all shaped by the natural environment and social hierarchy.
Unlike Europe, wealth was often measured in goods, labor, and relationships—not coins. Economic activity supported religion and politics, reinforcing the power of rulers and priests.

Tribute as a System of Taxation

Many empires, such as the Aztecs, built their power on tribute, a form of tax paid by conquered peoples.
Tribute could take many forms: food crops like maize or potatoes, luxury goods such as jade or feathers, and in some cases, human captives for ritual sacrifice.
This system allowed empires to grow rich without directly controlling every field or farmer.
Tribute sustained the army, funded religious ceremonies, and filled the storehouses of nobles and temples. It was a clear sign of submission to imperial authority.

Landholding and Agricultural Production

Land in most Indigenous societies was not privately owned, as it often was in Europe. Instead, it was held communally by extended families, clans, or the state.
The Inca Empire divided land into three parts
1. one for the state,
2. one for religion,

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

IB History Economic and Social Structures Notes

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

Economic Systems and Tribute in Indigenous Societies

Overview

Tribute as a System of Taxation

Landholding and Agricultural Production

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Economic Systems and Tribute in Indigenous Societies

Overview

Tribute as a System of Taxation

Landholding and Agricultural Production

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account